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Posted on Wed, Oct 31, 2012 : 6:15 p.m.

Freeway shootings: Motorist stopped on U.S. 23 accuses officer of mistreating him

By AnnArbor.com Staff

A man who was stopped on U.S. 23 in Livingston County, likely as part of the investigation into the I-96 corridor shootings, said a Michigan State Police trooper approached him with her gun drawn and threatened to shoot and kill him if he didn’t cooperate, MLive reported.

freewayinvestigation.jpg

Michigan State Police stopped cars along U.S. 23 in Livingston County Monday after reports of a shooting. Police now say they believe a rock caused a hole in a woman's car.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

Kim Sachs, 56, of Freeland, said he was stopped about 10 a.m. Monday on U.S. 23 south of Interstate 96. That was during the time police were investigating an incident first reported to be part of a series of recent shootings along the I-96 corridor. Police now say it was probably a rock that put a hole in the window of a woman’s car as she drove on U.S. 23.

Sachs said the officer frisked him and searched his car, “making a complete mess.” Another trooper arrived as backup while Sachs kept his hands on the trunk, he said.

“She brought tears to my eyes,” Sachs said of his treatment at the first trooper’s hands. “When she was done, she said, ‘Thanks for being a good sport, now buckle up and drive safe.’ Three times she threatened to shoot and kill me.”

MLive reported it was unable to reach the Brighton Post of the Michigan State Police for comment.

Police have formed a task force to investigate a string of at least 24 shootings in the area along I-96. They said Wednesday they have received more than 2,200 tips. They are offering a reward of $102,000.

I-96_shooting_composit.jpg

Police have released this sketch of the suspect in a series of 24 shootings.

AP photo

A West Michigan man was shot in the buttocks Saturday while driving to Detroit along I-96 in Livingston County. He is the only person wounded so far, but the suspect is believed to be shooting at people — not just their vehicles, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told The Associated Press Tuesday.

The FBI and ATF announced on Monday that they, along with Crime Stoppers are offering a $102,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the string of shooting incidents.

Click on the markers in the interactive map below to see when, where and how many shootings occurred at each location.

View I-96 Corridor Shootings in a full screen map





Comments

nickcarraweigh

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:36 p.m.

You got to break eggs to make omelets. Who said that? It's on the tip of my tongue.

A2Ray

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10 p.m.

My mom always said that...that's who. ;-)

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.

Not really, I get off Jackson Road exit 3 times out the week coming from the east. Only airport cops give me trouble because of the tint, which isn't an issue because I have a doctors note. Anyone else know anything I don't?

MgoBlueMomma

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.

So the cop was supposed to be nice when there was a possibility that the person pulled over could be a serial shooter?????

Third Coast

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 7:53 p.m.

Ummm, yes!

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 5:20 p.m.

another question might be, on what basis did the police think he might be the serial shooter? The age description was not a fit (29-31 versus 56). The vehicle description was not a fit 2012 Mustang versus 1998 Toyota or Oldsmobile). So what was a fit?

JB SHOOTER

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.

My last encounter with the MSP was very different. The officer did approach the car with great caution and had his hand on the gun ready to draw if needed. I fully expect this due to the nature of traffic stops recently. If you obey the commands and respect the officers authority, all will go well. If you act nervous, move around in the car as the officer approaches, etc, you will make them very nervous. Especially with a nut on the lose, they must be expecting a showdown when they stop him.

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.

I'm nearing 70 -born and raised in Michigan - and have always had high regard for our state police. I agree with justcurious: there's more to this story than Mr. Sachs is telling. Just the fact that the officer drew her gun and he was made to get outside and put into position for frisking suggests he did or said something that raised a red flag. If Mr. Sachs believes he has grounds for complaint, he should consult an attorney and go from there. There are tips for motorists who've been stopped by police. One of the most frequently stated is to immediately turn off your engine and then place your hands on the steering wheel (and keep them there until / unless requested to move them). Do not be physically active until the officer(s) have reached your car and do nothing which is out of sight of the officers. Displaying your knowledge of proper procedures in these situations will make it all easier and may result in a compliment from the officers you come in contact with. Nationally recognized expert Massad F. Ayoob has videos and books which cover this area and there are others, including law enforcement personnel, who can give you such advice. And maybe this is a good time for Rich Kinsey to offer some advice to the driving public on the subject. :-)

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.

Police officers with guns should be a less worry than the amount of idiots who own weapons aren't allowed to

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.

Or - those who own motor vehicles but should not be allowed to, eh? ;-)

Jim Osborn

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.

I've had difficulties in the past with the old 55 MPH freeway speed limit and perhaps I have a heavy foot. Having grown up in California, I can say with certainty that the police in SE Michigan are polite as compared to those in southern California. California officers confront a lot of gang members and such and are always on guard. One learns to keep one's hands on the steering wheel at all times and to tell the officer that you are going to reach into your glove box to get your registration. I have found Ann Arbor, Pittsfield, and Ypsi police over the past 15 years to be all very professional, courteous, and just doing a job, whether I was stopped or if I was a passenger. When I was a UCLA student, a home I was house-sitting was burglarized and when I returned and entered, the police were inside, pointed their guns at me and frisked me. They were just doing their jobs. They thought I was the returning burglar, coming back for more loot. It helped me that one of the officers recognized me from my lifeguard job and "let me go" I'd bet that this man did not cooperate and this escalated the situation. If the police officer was alone, and he was not cooperating, what would one expect her to do, ignore him?

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.

HAHA!!! He sounds like the people who try to clown me for having huge rims on my car and super dark windows.. Know why? My vehicle never matches any suspect desciption :) what they gonna say on the police scanner: Be on the look out for a Yellow Charger on 28's and they don't rub when he turns lol! Just saying, because I've never been pulled over by State police (200k highway driving so far living here)

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 7:59 p.m.

Not really, I get off Jackson Road exit 3 times out the week coming from the east. Only airport cops give me trouble because of the tint, which isn't an issue because I have a doctors note. Anyone else know anything I don't?

Third Coast

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.

Drive that thing down 94 between Jackson and Ann Arbor. You'll get pulled over.

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.

And thanks, I understand.. Its not for everybody ask the people who make smart cars lol

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 7:40 p.m.

I can show it before it was painted, sponsors won't like me showing off the fresh yellow before my next show in Southern Cali.. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3129328/2007-dodge-charger

StopCrying

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.

Hey good for you and well done on the turnarounds, I still stand by my comment though. Thats just too big for my taste. Any pictures?

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.

I'll show you ridiculous: 60k in sponsors a year 50k won in all m car shows combined car with paint, sounds, rims cost me 10k: Anybody who buys a car that buys a 40k car and can only sell it for half that when they are done is RIDICULOUS HAHA (like the guy who bought my car for 36k brand new and I bought it and transformed it with 10k) Moral of the story: It pays to be different... literally

StopCrying

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:50 p.m.

lol 28's must just look ridiculous on that car though.

jcj

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.

Wow! If this poor guy is not telling the truth it would be the 1st time someone EVER told a lie after being stopped.

Ron Granger

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.

I want them to catch the guy doing this, but it isn't worth putting up TSA style checkpoints on I-96. Nor is it worth harassing people driving cars who do not match the description. Our freedoms are worth more than that. Whenever a gun gets pointed at someone, there is chance that gun will go off. This guy could have ended up as another one of those "accidential" police shootings because why? Because he drove on I-96. Instead of these blanket searches to make it look like they're doing something, why aren't they using license plate reading technology to statistically track the frequency of plate numbers around the time of incidents?

nowayjose

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:39 p.m.

You watch too much tv. What is this license plate readong technology you write of. And if they have that don't you think they would then be unfairly targeting vehicles that drive i96 at a certain time? My point is with out a specific person. The police can only do so much to keep people safe.

Ron Granger

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.

How does the cop put this 56 year old guy through the ringer when the suspect is 20-30 years old? How does the cop confuse a 2012 Blue mustang with a racing stripe with a late 90's Cavalier, Alero or Camry?

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.

Tru2Blu76, the guy was pulled over and the cop had her weapon drawn and pointed at the guy. I would hope the cops need a pretty good reason to pull their guns and train them on "innocent" citizens.

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.

Oh, Ron, when did it happen that the police started looking ONLY for the freeway shooter? And when did it happen that all other drivers and vehicles suddenly became exempt from traffic stops?! Unless the entire Michigan Motor Vehicle Code has been suspended, I think we can expect to see these "unrelated" traffic stops happening more often, not less often. Maybe, just maybe, it's not the police who are "confused." ;-)

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.

2012!? Racing Stripe!? Nice ride!!!

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.

ez12c makes a good point in his/her 8:25 am post. The suspect is described as in his late 20's to early 30's years driving 1998 Oldsmobile Alero or a 1998 Toyota Camry. So how does a 56 year old man driving a 2012 Mustang fit the profile?

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3 p.m.

Tru2Blu76, I don't follow your logic. If they can stray that far from what they have, then where does it stop? Is any man between 29 and 60 driving a smaller car built between 1998 and 2012 a reasonable suspect? Maybe it was a woman with short hair. lets add them to the list. Maybe it was a lighter skinned "ethnic minority" that looked "sort of white" lets add them to the list. If we can't distinguish a 2012 car from a 1998 car whose to say it wasn't a 1984 car? lets add those to the list. So now anybody between 28-60 driving a smaller car built between 1984 and 2012 is a suspect unless they are a very dark skinned African American.

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.

Sorry Craig, but the last time I checked, no police agency is LIMITING their activities to JUST the pursuit of the freeway shooter. That's how they caught that retirement-aged "mule" driving his pickup loaded with bales of marijuana on I-96 a while back. Actually, police dragnets often produce such "side benefits." Just asking, how smart would it be for the MSP and county sheriff's deputies to look for only the individual and cars described? ;-)

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.

This is the exact reason why he hasnt been caught lol he is probably driving in traffic now laughing at cars the police has stopped and searched.

Atticus F.

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.

Let's not forget, any search deemed illegal could result in the suspect being cleared of charges based on a technicality... That's why it's extremely important that our officers follow the letter of the law when conducting an investigation.

FrankOZ

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.

I agree there is something much more to this story. My experiences with the MPS have been pretty limited, but I will admit they are not the most friendly of people, but hey, they're not out there to be our buddies. The only reason an officer would have threatened to shoot is if you were not complying and you'd really have to be pushing it if they actually did say it three times. My question is - do you want this shooter caught or do you just want to whine about perceived mistreatment?

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.

how about a third option....the shooter gets caught AND the police don't mistreat innocent citizens. I'm not saying the guy was mistreated merely suggesting your last question isn't an either/or 2 option proposition.

JGS

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.

One side of the story is all we have here. How can anyone pass judgement? I can see both sides, but put yourself in the officer's shoes for a moment. You have an allegedly armed person that shows no restraint and could strike again at any time. Heck, that's the daily life of an officer who protects you and me. They are constantly putting themselves and their lives on the line for us. Do some make mistakes? They sure do as they are HUMAN. Do they learn from their mistakes? 99.9% do and that makes them a better officer. Do you make mistakes at work? If your answer is no, then you're not being honest. We all make mistakes. It's how we learn from those mistakes that shapes our future. Are there over zealous officers? There sure are, but let the process run its course and get both sides of the story before passing judgement. -On The Fence

JGS

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 9:25 p.m.

Ok Ron, so can I assume you were informed of both sides of the story? Or are you just going on one side's perspective of the incident?

28's..andtheydon'trub

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.

Funny how my so-called gaudy charger never gets police action like this.. Even with 28's lol

Ron Granger

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.

I can easily pass judgement when they pull over a 2012 blue Mustang with racing stripes, and a 56 year old man. That is so far from the description of the 20-30 year old suspect and late 90's car.

ez12c

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:25 p.m.

I followed the link to MLive's story on this. He was driving a 2012 blue Mustang with white racing stripes. That car would never be confused with a dark colored Cavalier, Alero or Camry.

StopCrying

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.

Maybe it was the racing stripe? That was part of one of the reports I thought and people almost always remember details incorrectly.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.

good point. To add to that the suspect car was described as a 1998 vehicle not a 2012. Also described as a 20-30 year old, not 56.

DNB

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:55 a.m.

"Sachs said the officer frisked him and searched his car, making a complete mess." Wow, the Trooper made his car a *mess*, and brought tears to his eyes. Sorry about that, Mr. Sachs. IMO, when a request is made by a law enforcement official, you comply. Especially when they are looking for a miscreant who is shooting at people and vehicles. I'm glad they are out in full force, stopping vehicles that fit the description. I hope this individual is caught soon, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law...no promises, no deals!

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.

Nunya, actually I read this site, M-Live, Detroit Free press, Detroit News, Channels,4,7,Fox, WWJ radio, So i pretty much monitor 8 sites . I haven't seen any story yet that says there was any eye witness other than the guy shot at while taking his trash out. He would, for obvious reasons be the most promising source given the circumstance . He wasn't in an enclosed car traveling at a high rate of speed. He was standing outside his house.

Nunya

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.

Craig. You need to get your info from some other sources besides a2.com. When these incidents started there were several cars listed with the 2 you mentioned as well as a dark colored mustang and a dark colored cavalier. I think at this point no one knows for sure. The police were looking for a car related to this specific incident which happened moments before. Maybe it was described as a mustang Maybe the perp has changed cars. eyewitness accounts can also be wrong.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.

"I'm glad they are out in full force, stopping vehicles that fit the description." except the description is 1998 Oldsmobile Alero or a 1998 Toyota Camry....NOT 2012 Mustang.

GoNavy

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:37 a.m.

Officers can be a little high on their horses some times. I was pulled over in SE Ohio with my wife and brother in the car. I was carrying a handgun (for which I have a permit), and informed the officer as such. The officer immediately got jumpy, kept his hand resting on the grip of his gun for a bit, and at one point stated that "if any slick moves were made my brother might get his head blown off" (he was in the passenger seat). ...All for nothing in the end. The officer had simply picked my car out for "examination", likely due to Michigan plates. Did I complain to the officials? No, there wasn't any skin off of my back. But I don't think for a minute that this motorist isn't telling the truth.

zip the cat

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:14 a.m.

Hey dude. If you were mistreated,file a complaint. I doubt she said she would blow you away. I also think your lieing. I know lots of cops and they all have there guns out or there hand on it at all traffic stops.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10:59 a.m.

I believe from my readings that the car description is based on a single witness from one shooting some time ago who described a dark-colored, four-door car with a body style similar to a Chevrolet Cavalier or an old Toyota Camry or Oldsmobile Alero.

Greg

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10:55 a.m.

Considering how many police officers are killed on duty, I really have trouble being critical of a cop approaching a suspect car when someone is shooting at cars and people. Being cautious is pretty reasonable given the situation.

GoNavy

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.

Nunya- If I were against authority, I certainly wouldn't have enlisted in the Navy (and no, I didn't do it for the money). What I'm against is the *abuse of authority,* which this article appears to hint at. Given the evidence in the public sphere on the subject (anecdotal or otherwise), I'd say that those who are wary of abusive law enforcement officers - myself included - are not totally off their rockers. PS I'd disagree with your contention that LEO's are useless if they get killed. In fact, LEO's are there to get killed *before* I get killed - perhaps so I don't have to. In that way, they "serve" us. Just like members of our Armed Forces, who volunteer to go in (and potentially die) first...so you don't have to. Remember, LEO's work for us.

Nunya

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.

To protect us they must first protect themselves. They are no good to me if they get killed. Why are you so against authority?

GoNavy

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.

Nunya- I wouldn't say so. Every ticket I ever received I earned, so hard to fault the police for doing their job in those cases. Except, perhaps, the last one I received on the South Main speed trap in front of the old Leopolds going 7 over (32 in 25)...

Nunya

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.

Get too many tickets go navy?

GoNavy

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:38 a.m.

We do not live in a police state. The officers are there to serve and protect "us", not "themselves."

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10:49 a.m.

all police cars should be equipped with working dashboard cams and all police/citizen "conversations" should be recorded. That way there is no confusion about what did or didn't happen. I would think cops would embrace the idea. That way they can't be falsely accused of abuse.

Skyjockey43

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Ron is correct. Not only is it legal on Michigan to record you, The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that there is no expectation of privacy during a police stop, thus it is legal for a driver to record a police officer during a stop using both video and audio.

Ron Granger

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.

AfterDark, you are mistaken. There are many circumstances when conversation can be recorded, both by the public and by law enforcement.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.

that's not an issue. I am not talking about undercover or phone calls. I am talking officer/citizen/recording device, interaction after a traffic stop. It would be fully open to all parties.

AfterDark

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:08 a.m.

In Michigan, conversations cannot be recorded without knowledge of all parties involved unless there's a wiretap warrant issued.

Fat Bill

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10:36 a.m.

Most police dash cameras are activated when the emergency lights are switched on. These are public records; I would expect a FOIA request to be forthcoming. Having worth for and with various police agencies, I too can see both sides of this. I have known a few officers who are so jacked up with status and authority that they live for this kind of situation. I have also seen many people who are complete fools when they are stopped and essentially bring this sort of treatment upon themselves.

Fat Bill

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.

Actually...FOIA's happen all the time. Sometimes a department can delay the release by saying that the requested information is part of an active investigation...Tough to do in this case. Besides, if the trooper was not out of line, they can stop this accusation in its tracks by going public.

StopCrying

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.

I always love the people that still jump out of the car after being pulled over as if that is the way to handle the situation.

jcj

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.

thanks for the voice of reason Bill.

GoNavy

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:40 a.m.

Ever successfully run a FOIA request on any police department? I haven't - though not through lack of consistent effort, that's for sure.

Fatkitty

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 9:53 a.m.

This individual's claims sound a little "embellished". I doubt the state trooper approached the vehicle, weapon drawn, w/o a good reason.

Robert Granville

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:24 a.m.

Until you've been threatened by a cop at gunpoint you will not understand. They couldn't care less who you are or if you've done anything. In that moment, you belong to them.

Matt Cooper

Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 3:51 a.m.

Reminds me of song lyrics from the Kinks: "?? Paranoia...the destroyer!"

smokeblwr

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.

+1 for proper usage of "couldn't care less".

PineyWoodsGuy

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:14 a.m.

Hey Kimmie. "Tears to your eyes"? Dude, get a life! There is a Potential Killer out there! Bless the Police for checking you out. Geeze!

GoNavy

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:41 a.m.

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." -Benjamin Franklin

ArthGuinness

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:33 a.m.

Look, I have no idea if this guy is telling the truth or not. And I have no idea what the police officer knew or was told at that point. But I have to disagree with some of these posters (on both sides of the arguments): First off, no we do not need or want constant checkpoints, "show me your papers" or that sort of thing. But if you've got somebody with 24 documented incidences of shooting at cars, and you think you have their vehicle description for a car driving down some freeway at a particular time, yes please go ahead and set up a checkpoint and don't worry about some inconveniences. Second off, yes police officers are under stress when approaching a suspicious vehicle, but no that's not an excuse for poor behavior. Police officers are trained to deal with stressful situations, are they not? Of course it's natural for the body to react to a dangerous situation, but people whose job it is to be in those dangerous situations should be trained to handle their body's natural reaction. I'm not saying it's easy, but it needs to be done. There's no excuse for a police officer abusing his or her power. It is, quite simply, their JOB to remain professional under stress.

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.

Just asking, what in your (uninformed) opinion should police be doing during traffic stops? And so far, I see no sign that Michigan became a police state over this incident: police dragnet operations are standard procedure in these situations. As for the nonsense that says police must be perfect while citizens can do whatever passes through their wittle heads, I think reality contradicts that whole list of assumptions. As for Mr. Sachs: all he needs to do if he has a complaint is to consult an attorney and present proof that the officer is guilty of misconduct. A truly guilty officer will be in a load of trouble IF Mr. Sachs can do more than get quoted by AnnArbor dot com. :-)

Barb

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.

nicely put.

Fat Bill

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:05 a.m.

Hey people...we could all be very safe. All we need are police checkpoints...travel permits to leave the state...curfews....complete confiscation of all firearms...etc. Sound familiar? The next step will be indoctrination work camps to help "persuade" those who might actually believe in individual civil rights...troublemakers....

cameal

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.

While I do not agree with Fat Bill in this particular situation, I do think that in general we do need to be careful about the power we give authority in exchange for safety. We could end up with some laws on the books meant to be used for extreme situations that, but end up being used in other situations. This particular situation, however, was warranted and it doesn't seem as if any unnecessary force was used or anything.

StopCrying

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.

They are pulling over cars that match the description given by the victims. Get over yourself.

Ron Granger

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.

Pulling one of tens of thousands of cars over does not justify threatening lethal force, brandishing a gun, searching a person, or searching a vehicle.

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.

"Pulling one of tens of thousands of cars over does not justify threatening lethal force..." No, it doesn't but how is it that you KNOW that's what happened? Look up the law and case law concerning the use of lethal force - and keep in mind that you know nothing about what Mr. Sach's did / was doing that might PROVOKE the threat of deadly force. Just how is it that you know there wasn't probable cause for the traffic stop and subsequent police action? You give NO indication that you have that knowledge or anything but a hostile assumption about police. And while you're at it, check out the police recommended procedures for DRIVERS when they're the subject of a traffic stop. The rules apply to drivers too, in case you haven't realized it. Probabilities: is it more probable that a civilian driving in the area of a police dragnet gets stopped for legitimate reasons and then lets anger lead him to provocative action or is it more probable that a cop making a traffic stop in a dragnet area decides to become a threat to civilians?

StopCrying

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.

Granger, when you have a vehicle description and a guy shooting at cars over 20 times, the officers BETTER pull over the vehicles that match the description.

nowayjose

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:23 a.m.

Just because the guy said that happened doesn't mean it did. But you seem like the kinda guy that never gives the officer the benefit of the doubt based on your past comments.

Ron

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:23 a.m.

It does when they are in the middle of looking into a complaint and the suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Hmmmmm shootings mean he is armed and she was fully in her rights as a state trooper to have her gun out and making sure the maybe suspect know he/she better follow her commands or they will be shot. It's simple logic.

kindred spirit

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:50 a.m.

Looks like the composite sketch of the guy who was in the Birmingham basement, as someone on the wxyz site said. I hope the police read these comments and look into it.

Tesla

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:43 a.m.

I'm normally pretty suspicious of the police but in this case they have my support.

notta

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.

you are kidding me!!! the vehicle was stopped due to it matching a description give by the victim just minutes prior. i would love to see what a civilian would do when walking up to a car driven by a potentialy armed suspect. i dont think people realize the stress officers are put under in certain situations. officers have split seconds to make decisions and then have all their decisions monday morning quarterbacked. give them a break and let them find this guy without further stress from sensitive citizens.

justcurious

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 2:09 a.m.

I could not have said it better.

K

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:29 a.m.

The public complains when police don't catch criminals, then complain when they pull over those who fit the description. You can't have it both ways. Sorry for your inconvenience.

Billy

Wed, Oct 31, 2012 : 11:28 p.m.

Sounds 100% like State Police M.O. Every single involvement I have EVER had with state police has involved abuse of power and behavior unbecoming of the badge. Looks like they're still up to their old tricks....

ferdcom

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 12:33 a.m.

Wow, Billy!!!! How many times have you been pulled over.

justcurious

Wed, Oct 31, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.

Somehow I think there must be more to this story than he reported. The State Police have always been known as one of the most professional organizations in law enforcement and his story is very uncharacteristic of how they operate.

HONDO

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 4:44 p.m.

Ive been pulled over by the MSP couple times, I was in the wrong and complied. Very pleasant experience. Maybe if people admit their wrongs, prolly get a little respect from the officer even though you are in the wrong.Give a hassle or act above the law, well I doubt youll be giving 5 stars on the review card everyone gets from a traffic ticket.....HA!

jcj

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.

Billy Strange that YOU apparently have a propensity for being pullover by the State Police. I have been pulled over by the state police once in 50 years of driving./ And I was 18 driving 80 at the time. You might want to change your life style so you won't have to be threatened by these viscous, rude animals!

AfterDark

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:01 a.m.

No one in my family who has been pulled over by the State Police has ever had a bad or less-than-professional experience with them. Years ago when my dad ran out of fuel on an isolated section of freeway an officer provided a gallon of fuel for him to get to the next gas station.

Homeland Conspiracy

Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 1:58 a.m.

comply or die

Billy

Wed, Oct 31, 2012 : 11:30 p.m.

lol wut? I have no idea what you are talking about... I guess you've never been pulled over by state before then.... They are NOT known as the most professional organization. I don't know one single person that has EVER had a good experience with the state police. Everyone I know has a dislike for them....even other police officers. His story is INCREDIBLY accurate as to their standard behavior and is in fact QUITE characteristic of Michigan state police behavior.

clara

Wed, Oct 31, 2012 : 11:06 p.m.

Well, the first thing that comes to mind is that it was repeated 3 times. Like he did not comply with directions the first two times. Sort of like talking to your kids. Pick up your socks or no movie. I said pick up your socks or no movie. No movie if you don't pick up your socks now. but think about the trooper wondering if this is the guy who just shot or shot at someone.